Method of treating textile fabrics



Patented Nov. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALEXANDER MILI'IOMME, OF RIDGEFIELD PARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO PROGRES- SIVE SILK FINISHING CO., F HOIBOKEN, 'NEW JERSEY, A GORIPORATIONOF NEW JERSEY METHOD OF TREATING TEXTILE FABRICS 1N0 Drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in methods of treating textile fabrics, and has particular reference to the production of moire scratch patterns therein.

, The art of producing moir patterns, both of the so-called straight and scratch types,

. on natural silk goods and certain kinds of rayon, such as viscose, is well known. It has also'been possible, to some degree, to form straight moire designs in cellulose acetate, commercially known as celanese, but prior to the present invention and, in so far as I am aware the art has not successfully accomplished the production of scratch patterns on fabrics made from cellulose acetate fibres. This apparently has been due to the fact that these fibres, under certain conditions, have insufficient elasticity to withstand the action of the scratching blades of the machine utilized to produce the moire effect, for in numerous experiments, prior to the development of the present method, breaks in the fabric have resulted.

The present invention overcomes the above difficulty and results in the production of perfect scratch patterns in fabrics made of cellulose acetate fibres, by moistening the fabrics before they are subjected to the scratching operation, following which the fabric is dried and then subjected to heat and pressure.

The inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of expressions and is not to be construed as being limited to any particular manner of moistening the fabric nor to the herein described method of scratching the patterns, except in so far as definedby the scope of the appended claims.

In carrying out the method of the present invention, the fabric, after being moistened, is run through a machine of known construction which embodies the ordinary feed and take-up rollers between which are mounted an embossed pattern roll and a scratching roll having flexible blades thereon. These rolls are positioned in opposed cooperating relation and the length of fabric is passed therebetween, the scratching roll being driven in a direction opposite to that of the travel of a the fabric and the embossed roll being frictionally driven by the latter, as is customary.

Application filed. April 13, 1929. Seria1N0.354,989;

In preparation for the scratching operation the fabric is moistened to a degree which will produce the best results. That is, it may be saturated in a liquid bath, or may be merely dampened either by runningthe samethrough an ordinary cloth finishing machine in which one of the rolls with which the fabric contacts is moistened, or the fabric may be sprayed. It has been found that dampening by the use of a finishing machine has produced satisfactory results and, in this instance, the length of cloth is folded either longitudinally or transversely before the dampening process so as to double the same.

After the proper amount of moisture has been applied, the fabric, still in its folded condition, is fed through the machine that is utilized to secure the moir scratch effect. In so doing the upper layer of the folded fabric is acted upon by the blades of the scratching roll to scratch the design on said layer in accordance with that on the embossed roll and the fact that the fabric is in a moistened condition has been found to prevent the action of the scratching blades from breaking the fabric.

Following the scratching operation, the fabric is thoroughly dried in any suitable manner and then submitted to pressure and heat, preferably by passing the goods between heated calender rolls, although the result also may be accomplished by carding the length of fabric and placing it in a press. The application of heat and pressure to the folded fabric causes the design to be reproduced upon both of the inner or abutting surfaces of the layers thereof, the final result being that a characteristic moire efi'ect, where in the scratched pattern has a greater luster or sheen than the remainder of the fabric, will be produced.

What is claimed is:

I 1., The method of producing moir scratch patterns in fabrics made from cellulose acepatterns in fabrics made from cellulose acetate fibres, which comprises moistening the. fabric before scratching the pattern thereon,

scratching the pattern on the fabric, drying the fabric, and then applying heat and pressure thereto. v

3. The'methorl of producing moir patterns in fabrics made of cellulose acetate fibres,

' which comprises moistening the fabric, forming'a moi-repatternitherein'While moistened, "clr-yingthe ,fabric, and thereafter applying heat and pressure thereto.

' In testimony whereof l have afiixed my signature,

ALEXANDER MILHOMME;

1,7e1,29e Y 

